Days after a man and his son were murdered at Muthalaipatti in Karur district for playing an active role in exposing encroachment on a waterbody in the area, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday initiated suo motuproceedings, taking cognisance of news reports on the murder.
A Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and B. Pugalendhi directed the Superintendent of Police, Karur, to file a report on the progress made in the investigation in the case. Veeramani and his son Nallathambi were hacked to death by a group of six members on July 29.
Taking cognisance of the fact that orders were passed directing the authorities to act against the encroachments, the court sought a report on the original extent of the waterbody, the reason for reduction in the extent of the waterbody, present number of encroachments, and steps taken to remove encroachments or to prevent fresh encroachments.
The court said the reports sought should be submitted on August 14. The case was adjourned.
The court observed that several orders were passed on removal of encroachments by the High Court both at the Principal Seat at Chennai and its Bench in Madurai. Also, The Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachments Act of 2007 and the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act of 1905 are already in place. Yet, there was lack of monitoring and lack of fixation of responsibility.